Morning Report: Christian McCaffrey Stars in Madden NFL 25 Cover 🗞️

Jun 12, 2024 at 07:00 AM

Good Morning Faithful,

Here are your top 49ers storylines for Wednesday, June 12th.

New and Notable

Christian McCaffrey Debuts as the Madden NFL 25 Cover Athlete

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey's exciting offseason continues. On Tuesday, a week after putting pen to paper on a two-year extension with the red and gold, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year was unveiled as the Madden 25 cover athlete. He is the first player from the 49ers organization to be featured on the cover of the popular Electronic Arts video game since Garrison Hearst was on the international cover in 1999.

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CMC Contract Extension, Ward Recovery; 4 Takeaways from Mandatory Minicamp

Samuel Sr. is one of several veterans that have been on hand for at least a portion of the voluntary parts of the team's offseason workout program. The wideout joined practices in Phase Three, so he's had the opportunity to participate in practices with the newest additions to the receiver room which include first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall and fourth-round selection Jacob Cowing.

"I've been really impressed," Samuel Sr. said. "Just going back and watching Ricky, he's very fluid in a lot of routes. He's got really good hands."

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Talanoa Hufanga Talks Recovery Progress and Mental Approach to Offseason

Safety Talanoa Hufanga is one of a few veterans present but not participating in the team's mandatory minicamp this week as he continues to rehab from a season-ending ACL injury. The fourth-year player went down in Week 11 of the 2023 season and, for the first time this offseason, offered updates on his recovery progress ahead of the team's 40-day summer break.

"I'm feeling great," Hufanga said. "I get a little eager out there. I'm super excited. It's fun. The days I get to go out there and watch practices, it's been a blessing."

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Fred Warner Sits at No. 1 in PFF's 'Top 32' LB Rankings Ahead of 2024

Although no NFL team stays the same year-to-year, the San Francisco 49ers managed to keep a large majority of its veteran corps from Super Bowl LVIII intact headed into next season. Among that group of returning veteran playmakers is linebacker Fred Warner, who was one of three athletes league wide to earn unanimous All-Pro honors in 2023 after amassing 132 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 11 passes defensed and four interceptions. He also earned a 90.0-overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, the second-highest mark amongst all linebackers, and logged 600-plus more defensive snaps than the linebacker with the No. 1-overall grade.

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